2. General Trends Controlling Transport Growth and Demand
2.3.1
Global and Regional Trends in Carbon Emissions
The expansion of global trade due to changes (including fragmentation) in production patterns has resulted in increases in the global CO emissions, with the transport sector being a significant source of such emissions; the international trading of goods generates emissions that are 50 per cent higher, on average, than those generated by locally-traded goods (United Nations, 2013). It is expected that the expansion of and changes in the consumption patterns in emerging economies will exacerbate the already significant environmental challenges that have been originally imposed by unsustainable consumption patterns in the developed countries (DESA, 2013). 2
Presently, CO2 transport emissions show a significant spatial variations. The highest emissions are found in the United States of America, the Russian Federation, China, Japan and Brazil, with Western Europe, Australia and India also associated with high transport emissions (Figure 2.12(a)). In comparison, Africa and the central Asia are characterized by low transportgenerated emissions. The fastest growing CO2 emissions are found in China, certain African countries, Eastern Europe, India and in the western Latin America (Figure 2.12(b)). In the UNECE region, CO2 transport related emissions increased by 23 per cent in the period 1990–2008, but with large variations; in several member States emissions have more than doubled, whereas in others, emissions have decreased as, for example, in Germany (UNECE, 2012). Figure 2.12 (a) CO2 emissions (in million metric tonnes) from transport (2011) (b) Changes in the CO2 emissions, 2001–2011 (see also ANNEX Table A.1)
Source: World Bank Note: The information relates to emissions from the combustion of fuel for all transport activities, regardless of the mode (except for international marine bunkers and international aviation). It includes domestic aviation and navigation, road, rail and pipeline transport, and corresponds to IPCC Source/Sink Category 1 A 3.
25